Picked up by The Verge, Apple has warned iPhone users that it will be pushing iOS updates in the next few days which will change core functionality in their phones. And, unlike normal updates, these changes are not about making things better.

Apple's iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR

Apple

What Apple is changing is how users will be able to resize pictures and manage applications on their iPhones. How will these functions be altered? Apple hasn’t said, other than to confirm the update and describe this functionality as “minor” when it is clearly anything but.

So what is going on? In short: Apple is trying to win favour with judges and iPhone users are the test subjects for this.

In its ongoing legal battle with Qualcomm (which has already cost iPhone owners 5G), Apple has been found to infringe Qualcomm copyrights on image resizing and application management which risks a sales ban in China. Apple’s response has been to push software updates to millions of iPhone users making unspecified changes to the functionality in the hope judges are impressed and the ban is not imposed.

Will iPhone owners want to upgrade? It appears they will have no choice as Apple needs all iPhones to be running the changes which will also push them to the latest version of iOS 12.

And the problem is this is unlikely to work.

Apple's iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will also be upgraded along with many older models

Apple

Qualcomm responded to the action by saying “Apple continues to disregard and violate [court orders]”, which means iPhone owners may remain the test subjects of this case with further compliance changes (for better or worse) until the case is resolved.

Looking for good news? Currently, the case is limited to China and the iOS update will only apply to iPhone owners in that country at this time. But Qualcomm’s case is global and covers dozens of lawsuits so wider implications and more legally-motivated updates to iPhones and iPads are likely to follow.